Corrugated Conference – ESRS E5 and the Circular Economy: how to turn data into strategy

Dr Aaron Yeardley of Tunley Environmental will present “ESRS E5 Unpacked” at the Corrugated Conference Corrugated 2026 in Barcelona. The session provides corrugated converters with practical strategies for circular economy compliance under new EU standards. Attendees will learn to use Life Cycle Assessments to reduce waste, cut costs, and turn regulatory requirements into competitive advantages.

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at Corrugated 2026 in the Corrugated Theatre at Fira Barcelona from 19-22 May 2026. My session, titled “ESRS E5 Unpacked: Practical Circular Economy Wins for Corrugated Converters”, dives into one of the most pressing yet opportunity-rich topics for our industry right now.

Who am I

I am Dr Aaron Yeardley and I lead the science team at Tunley Environmental, a global environmental consultancy dedicated to helping businesses become more sustainable. We specialise in sustainability reporting, including frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and its European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Our expertise lies in developing robust procedures, conducting rigorous assessments, and guiding product design to minimise environmental impact while delivering real business value. With years of experience supporting companies across sectors, we turn complex regulations into actionable strategies that reduce risks, cut costs, and drive innovation.

My session

The session focuses squarely on ESRS E5: Resource Use and Circular Economy. This standard requires detailed disclosures on how businesses manage resources throughout their value chains, considering the whole life journey of materials from inflows (virgin vs recycled materials) to outflows (waste, recyclability, and end-of-life performance). For the corrugated packaging sector, which already excels in fibre-based recyclability, ESRS E5 is particularly relevant. Major customers in retail, food and beverage, and consumer goods increasingly require data on recycled content, circular product design, waste avoidance, and material hotspots. Compliance isn’t optional for many large EU firms (and their suppliers), and the ripple effects are hitting converters now.

In the presentation, I’ll break down why ESRS E5 matters urgently, highlight key material hotspots in corrugated value chains (such as virgin fibre sourcing and end-of-life disposal), and demonstrate how Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provide credible, ISO-aligned baselines and scenario testing.

What attendees will gain from my session

Attendees will get practical steps on: mapping resource flows, setting achievable targets (e.g., increasing recycled content to 60% by 2028), and collaborating with suppliers to secure upstream data. We’ll explore how these actions turn a potential compliance burden into tangible wins through lower material costs, protection against price volatility, innovative designs like modular or reusable boxes, and stronger trust from brands, investors, and regulators.

By attending, you’ll leave equipped with tools to shift from reactive reporting to proactive strategy in a resource-constrained future. You’ll gain clarity on navigating CSRD requirements, confidence in LCA methodologies for defensible data, and ideas to position your business as a leader in circular packaging. Whether you’re optimising current operations or exploring new revenue streams through sustainable innovation, this session delivers grounded, converter-focused insights.

The Corrugated Theatre sessions make it easy to combine learning with networking and live demos. Join me to see how corrugated businesses can embrace ESRS E5 not as a hurdle, but as a competitive edge.

See you in Barcelona!